- 1. Test the Soil<\/a><\/li>
- 2. Fertilize Only if You Need To<\/a><\/li>
- 3. Feed the Soil to Feed the Grass<\/a><\/li>
- 4. Pesticides Are Not the Only Way<\/a><\/li>
- 5. Overseed for Weed Control<\/a><\/li>
- 6. Keep the Grass Tall and the Blades Sharp<\/a><\/li>
- 7. Water Less Often for Deep Roots<\/a><\/li>
- 8. Stop Bagging Grass Clippings<\/a><\/li>
- 9. Use Rain Barrels to Irrigate the Lawn<\/a><\/li>
- 10. Replace Some Turf with Groundcovers Native to Atlanta<\/a><\/li>
- 11. Increase Biodiversity with Habitat Gardens<\/a><\/li>
- 12. Switch to Green Lawn Care Tools<\/a><\/li>
- 13. Seek Out Organic Knowledge<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
1. Test the Soil<\/h2>
![\"image](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Soil-Test.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Health Compaign<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> A soil test costs under $15. For this price, it tells you everything you need to know about the ground under your grass: <\/p>
- Structure<\/li>
- Composition<\/li>
- Fertility<\/li>
- pH<\/li><\/ul>
Left unchecked for a few years, the red clay soil of the Metro Atlanta area turns acidic, with pH dropping below 5.5. You don’t want that because low pH prevents nutrient absorption, leading to:<\/p>
- Excessive fertilization <\/li>
- Overwatering<\/li>
- Weak plants that are more vulnerable to diseases and need more fungicides<\/li><\/ul>
That’s why the Center of Urban Agriculture<\/a> at UGA advises lawn owners to test the soil every two or three years. Treated with lime, acidic soil balances its pH and is ready for efficient fertilization in about 6 months. <\/p>
Without a soil test showing nutrient deficits, homeowners tend to over-fertilize. This leads to toxic runoff that gets into the local waters where it:<\/p>
- Promotes algae bloom<\/li>
- Kills aquatic organisms<\/li>
- Pollutes drinking water<\/li><\/ul>
You can take a soil sample to the Fulton County Extension Office<\/a> in person, or you can send it by mail. It takes up to two weeks to receive the results with advice on proper soil amendments.<\/p>
2. Fertilize Only if You Need To<\/h2>
Excess fertilizers wash off your lawn in rainy spring and fall months, getting into storm drains. They enter our beautiful lakes and rivers, all the way to the ocean, contaminating the water. <\/p>
All that nitrogen we add to make the grass greener leads to algae blooms that create dead zones, kill fish, and produce harmful toxins.<\/p>
How to fertilize eco-friendly?<\/strong> It’s easy, but you have to make some changes and stick with them:<\/p>
- Always fertilize during the growing season.<\/strong> This is when the grass is hungry and quickly absorbs nutrients, with less leaching. For warm-season grasses in Atlanta, this is during summer. If you have a tall fescue lawn, fertilize it during fall.<\/li>
- Don’t fertilize on compacted soil.<\/strong> Aerate before you spread any fertilizer to ensure proper absorption and minimal runoff.<\/li>
- Apply the right amount of fertilizer<\/strong>, considering soil test results and product instructions. More is not better.<\/li>
- Use a side guard on your spreader<\/strong> to get all the fertilizer on the lawn and nothing on the walkways or other impervious surfaces.<\/li>
- Switch to an organic formula <\/strong>from a trusted provider. <\/strong>You can buy it from the store or make some organic fertilizer at home<\/a>. <\/li><\/ul>
3. Feed the Soil to Feed the Grass<\/h2>
![\"soil](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/soil-g67ddc50da_1920-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> Switching from lab-made fertilizers to organic grass food is a big step in eco-friendly lawn care. It\u2019s also one of the most efficient lawn care tips<\/a> to take your yard to the next level of health and beauty.<\/p>
Synthetic fertilizers<\/strong> are made to feed the grass directly and quickly. They have nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, essential for grass growth. With high concentration and fast release, this type of grass food leads to rapid growth at the expense of the root system. It can also build up in the soil, leading to leaching and runoff. <\/p>
Organic fertilizers<\/strong> feed the entire ecosystem: soil, helpful microorganisms, and grass. They:<\/p>
- Need soil microbes to break down the organic matter.<\/li>
- Release nutrients slowly, at a pace more suitable for grass needs. <\/li>
- Come with minimal risk of leaching and runoff. <\/li>
- Are safer for plants, wildlife, and humans.<\/li><\/ul>
![\"illustration](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/LawnLove-Fertilizer-illustration.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Juan Rodriguez<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> Among the most popular sources of natural fertilizers<\/a> are manure, worm castings, fish meal, and compost. You can find detailed information about what nutrients and how much each type of organic fertilizer offers on the University of Georgia Extension Office website.<\/p>
4. Pesticides Are Not the Only Way<\/h2>
There are other ways to remove pests from your lawn than using pesticides harmful to the environment. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) works with most of these strategies. <\/p>
IPM is a pest control approach<\/a> focused on making Atlanta lawns less alluring and accessible to pests. It actually includes some lawn care tasks you should already be doing, such as:<\/p>
- Periodic aeration and removing the thatch layer to improve air circulation.<\/li>
- Removing fallen branches and leaves (shelter options and food sources for pests).<\/li>
- Mowing regularly.<\/li>
- Watering less frequently to avoid moisture build-up.<\/li>
- Trimming tree branches to allow more sunlight.<\/li>
- Setting live traps for rodents.<\/li>
- Installing fences.<\/li><\/ul>
These simple lawn maintenance measures can keep the popular Atlanta pests<\/a> away at least partially and reduce the need to apply harmful pesticides.<\/p>
5. Overseed for Weed Control<\/h2>
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/overseeding-1.jpg\")
Photo credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> Turfgrass gets thinned in time, and grass plants live only up to seven years. Overseed annually to keep a tight lawn and cover all bare spots. It is one of the best ways to fight weeds without herbicides.<\/strong><\/p>
A dense, thick Atlanta lawn leaves less space, sunlight, and nutrients for weeds. The best times to overseed in the Big A climate are:<\/p>
- Early to mid-fall for tall fescue and other cold-season grasses<\/li>
- During the winter season (\u201cdormant-seeding\u201d)<\/li>
- Late spring to early summer for warm-season Atlanta grasses such as Bermuda and Zoysia<\/li><\/ul>
As a bonus, dense lawns also keep the moisture better in the soil, reducing water usage all year round.<\/p>
6. Keep the Grass Tall and the Blades Sharp<\/h2>
When you cut the grass taller, you protect its stems from heat (or cold), keeping it healthier and less vulnerable to diseases. <\/p>
Taller turfgrass gives the soil more shade, reducing water evaporation and limiting weeds’ access to sunlight. So, just from mowing the grass a little taller, you\u2019ll need:<\/p>
- Less fertilizer<\/li>
- Less watering<\/li>
- Fewer pesticides<\/li><\/ul>
How tall should you mow? It depends on the type of grass on your lawn. Here are the recommended heights for the most popular Atlanta grasses<\/a>:<\/p>
- Don’t fertilize on compacted soil.<\/strong> Aerate before you spread any fertilizer to ensure proper absorption and minimal runoff.<\/li>
- Always fertilize during the growing season.<\/strong> This is when the grass is hungry and quickly absorbs nutrients, with less leaching. For warm-season grasses in Atlanta, this is during summer. If you have a tall fescue lawn, fertilize it during fall.<\/li>
- 2. Fertilize Only if You Need To<\/a><\/li>
![\"wheelbarrow](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/rsz_50025575182_2749262681_c.jpg\")
![\"Looking](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Groundcover_6695.jpg\")
![\"Gardening](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-228.jpeg\")